Sinfulness has always been around. People have always been as decadent. Nothing has changed about human nature. The way we live our lives however, has.
I disagree with your statement that it is a sign of the end times. Ever since the resurrection and ascent to heaven people have been thinking they live in the end times, I find it kind of arrogant to believe we are the lucky, or unlucky (relative) to witness the return of Christ. However, only for a short period of time have we had the power to destroy every life on Earth. Which is when Jesus will intercede. At least, this is my impression of Revelation. Really it is Israel that will be about to be destroyed, which could cause the destruction of everything else. Samson option anyone? Every nation will be an enemy of Israel. Why not destroy everyone at that point?
We do live in a fallen world. But even during the end there will be righteous men and women. Basically revelation was written so long ago, and John was literally seeing the future, he had no words to describe the things he saw. He may have referred to what he thought was the entire Earth, but really may have just been the Middle Eastern area. There is just too much of a gap in time for us to read what he saw and interpret it rationally. The end could come at anytime, most think it is after massive global catastrophes, and billions of deaths. I forget the correct % that many say will die, I think it’s something like 80% of the total human population at the time, but I’m pretty sure it would actually be higher. The end times prophecies really don’t specifically talk about any lands besides the Middle Eastern, and Eastern European areas. Correct me if I am wrong, but I don’t even think China and the eastern Asian areas are mentioned, and definitely not America, or the American continents for that matter.
Liberalism is not a new idea however. But it is a new name. More people are embracing it. Tolerance for “all” , but not for those who say liberalism is wrong. Is how I would sum up liberalism in one sentence. Same idea many tyrants, dictators, and evil men have had.
I could be completely wrong and most likely am, but liberalism/communism/socialism/progresivism seem to have begun taking a hold on many nations. I guess it just seems like mankind is headed for some major issues, and each global conflict has been worse and worse. Instead of sinfulness (since the world has always been sinful), I think there are just MORE SINFUL. Due to technology, we live longer, can communicate easier, and have all our basic needs provided about 100x easier than 2000 years ago. All the problems caused by sin are therefore communicated instantly around the world, there are more people to cause chaos, and people don’t have to focus on hunting 12 hours a day 365 days a year. We can commit our minds to other things besides survival.
Proverbs 16:27 sums up perfectly the point I am trying to get across.
Idle hands are the devil’s workshop; idle lips are his mouthpiece.
Nobody has anything to focus their mind and body on so they turn to the sinful side of human nature. Which leads to the isms currently destroying our world and way of life. Technology, IMHO is a major factor of humanity’s descent into illogical madness. Why the massive technological advances during the 20th century. Why not earlier? Were we helped along by supernatural forces? As humanity grew more sinful, was it easier to deceive us into building things that would do our work for us? I believe technology is one of the major factors for the way the world is.
The evil people are no longer purged through their own foolishness, there is no accountability anymore. It feels like the world is aimlessly driving of a cliff. There are more people causing problems then there are trying to solve them. Many good men and women have just given up on the world, trying to live peaceful lives, and evil runs rampant.
Yes, it’s true that sinfulness has always been man’s nature, but the Bible speaks of the decadence and immorality becoming even worse as we approach the end. We see that happening now.
Certainly you’re right that every generation has believed they were in the end times, but Scripture gives us evidence so that we can know.
Those other generations didn’t live to see the rebirth of Israel, nor the great increase in knowledge and “many people running to and fro.” In earlier times, most people didn’t stray far from the area in which they were born. Now, it’s no big deal to hop a plane to the other side of the world; many do it regularly.
Before, there was no technology available to enforce the mark of the beast worldwide. We have that ability now.
Read about the two witnesses in Revelation; the Bible says the whole world will see their dead bodies, which is only now possible with the worldwide TV news feeds we have.
Christians will turn away from the truth and toward false doctrine; also there will be a rise in occultism. Both are rampant.
There’s nothing arrogant in being able to read the word of God and understand the signs He gives us...I don’t know how you get that. I’m not bragging nor weeping about it; it is what it is. Besides, SOME generation will have to be the one, right?
Israel will not be destroyed. Scripture is clear about that.
You’re right, John had no words to describe the visions that were given to him, which is why they were given to him by the Holy Spirit. All Scripture is God-breathed, If we’re going to doubt that, we might as well toss it all away.
Freedomstar, I would suggest a study of Biblical prophecy, beginning with those in Daniel, which correctly predicted the rise of the four world empires.
Jerusalem has always been at the heart of the Bible, but Scripture talks about the massive world armies that will come against her during the last days, which are said by many Bible scholars to be those of Russia and China, among others.
You said it yourself...the world is headed off a cliff; we are headed for some major issues. And you’re right.